2027 Best Value General Petroleum Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[General Petroleum Engineering](/majors/engineering/petroleum-engineering/general-petroleum-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for general petroleum engineering students.
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2027 Best Value General Petroleum Engineering Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general petroleum engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Petroleum Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin the best value for a degree in general petroleum engineering in the United States. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Odessa. Students from in state pay about $9,607 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the general petroleum engineering program here. Early-career general petroleum engineering graduates make about $61,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin admits about 95% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wyoming earned it the #2 place for general petroleum engineering. University Of Wyoming is a large public school located in the town of Laramie. In-state tuition and fees average $7,768, with out-of-state students paying around $24,178. Typical student debt for general petroleum engineering graduates is $24,638. General Petroleum Engineering graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of $66,221 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wyoming admits about 97% of applicants.
University Of Houston is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general petroleum engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,366 to complete the general petroleum engineering program here. General Petroleum Engineering graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $52,295 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,366 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general petroleum engineering will find it at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus, which ranked #4. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norman. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,797, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Typical student debt for general petroleum engineering graduates is $24,625. Early-career general petroleum engineering graduates make about $61,223. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
A rank of #5 makes West Virginia University one of the best values for general petroleum engineering. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the general petroleum engineering program here. Early-career general petroleum engineering graduates make about $68,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. West Virginia University admits about 89% of applicants.
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana earned the #6 position for value in general petroleum engineering this year. Set in the town of Butte, Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,289 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,094 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general petroleum engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career general petroleum engineering graduates make about $69,212. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana admits about 91% of applicants.
Texas Tech University placed #7 among the best values for general petroleum engineering. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Students borrow a median of $26,090 to complete the general petroleum engineering program here. General Petroleum Engineering graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $80,460 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general petroleum engineering schools. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,954, compared with $28,631 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general petroleum engineering graduates is $25,750. Soon after graduation, general petroleum engineering degree recipients from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College generally make around $56,605. Set against $25,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #9 among the best values for general petroleum engineering. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. General Petroleum Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,239 in student loans. Early-career general petroleum engineering graduates make about $86,761. Set against $17,239 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station placed #10 among the best values for general petroleum engineering. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. General Petroleum Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. General Petroleum Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $69,603 early in their careers. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Marietta College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value general petroleum engineering schools. Set in the town of Marietta, Marietta College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,652 in tuition and fees. General Petroleum Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general petroleum engineering degree recipients from Marietta College generally make around $82,205. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Marietta College admits about 79% of applicants.
Colorado School Of Mines placed #12 among the best values for general petroleum engineering. Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Golden. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,914, with out-of-state students paying around $45,824. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general petroleum engineering program here. Early-career general petroleum engineering graduates make about $77,400. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #13 position for value in general petroleum engineering this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Typical student debt for general petroleum engineering graduates is $22,368. General Petroleum Engineering graduates of Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn a median of $85,795 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,368 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Other General Petroleum Engineering Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value General Petroleum Engineering rankings across degree levels:
View All General Petroleum Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
